Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group

This research investigates the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the business practices of the Portuguese energy giant EDP Group. We analyse the company’s annual reports, sustainability reports, and public statements to explore the motivations, challenges, and key organisa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Helena Costa Oliveira, Marta Gomes, Isabel Maldonado, Susana Bastos, Paulino Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Administrative Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/7/253
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419189961359360
author Helena Costa Oliveira
Marta Gomes
Isabel Maldonado
Susana Bastos
Paulino Silva
author_facet Helena Costa Oliveira
Marta Gomes
Isabel Maldonado
Susana Bastos
Paulino Silva
author_sort Helena Costa Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description This research investigates the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the business practices of the Portuguese energy giant EDP Group. We analyse the company’s annual reports, sustainability reports, and public statements to explore the motivations, challenges, and key organisational dimensions involved in this process. Our findings reveal that EDP Group’s strong commitment to sustainability, external pressures, and stakeholder expectations have driven the integration of the SDGs into its strategic and operational plans. The company’s cultural emphasis on environmental and social responsibility and formal management control systems has facilitated this integration. However, challenges such as the lack of standardised metrics to measure social and environmental impacts and the evolving regulatory landscape hinder progress. This study contributes to understanding how large corporations can effectively integrate the SDGs into their business models, providing valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers.
format Article
id doaj-art-ba548cf72c16449998d65e452f498d90
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3387
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Administrative Sciences
spelling doaj-art-ba548cf72c16449998d65e452f498d902025-08-20T03:32:12ZengMDPI AGAdministrative Sciences2076-33872025-06-0115725310.3390/admsci15070253Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP GroupHelena Costa Oliveira0Marta Gomes1Isabel Maldonado2Susana Bastos3Paulino Silva4Centro de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociais, Department of Accounting, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Accounting, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, PortugalCentro de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociais, Department of Accounting, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, REMIT—Universidade Portucalense and GOVCOPP—Universidade de Aveiro, 4465-004 Porto, PortugalCentro de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociais, Department of Accounting, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, PortugalCentro de Estudos Organizacionais e Sociais, Department of Accounting, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 Porto, PortugalThis research investigates the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the business practices of the Portuguese energy giant EDP Group. We analyse the company’s annual reports, sustainability reports, and public statements to explore the motivations, challenges, and key organisational dimensions involved in this process. Our findings reveal that EDP Group’s strong commitment to sustainability, external pressures, and stakeholder expectations have driven the integration of the SDGs into its strategic and operational plans. The company’s cultural emphasis on environmental and social responsibility and formal management control systems has facilitated this integration. However, challenges such as the lack of standardised metrics to measure social and environmental impacts and the evolving regulatory landscape hinder progress. This study contributes to understanding how large corporations can effectively integrate the SDGs into their business models, providing valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/7/253Sustainable Development Goalssustainabilitymanagement controlsocial responsibilityenergyPortugal
spellingShingle Helena Costa Oliveira
Marta Gomes
Isabel Maldonado
Susana Bastos
Paulino Silva
Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
Administrative Sciences
Sustainable Development Goals
sustainability
management control
social responsibility
energy
Portugal
title Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
title_full Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
title_fullStr Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
title_full_unstemmed Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
title_short Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Strategy: A Case Study of EDP Group
title_sort integrating the sdgs into corporate strategy a case study of edp group
topic Sustainable Development Goals
sustainability
management control
social responsibility
energy
Portugal
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/15/7/253
work_keys_str_mv AT helenacostaoliveira integratingthesdgsintocorporatestrategyacasestudyofedpgroup
AT martagomes integratingthesdgsintocorporatestrategyacasestudyofedpgroup
AT isabelmaldonado integratingthesdgsintocorporatestrategyacasestudyofedpgroup
AT susanabastos integratingthesdgsintocorporatestrategyacasestudyofedpgroup
AT paulinosilva integratingthesdgsintocorporatestrategyacasestudyofedpgroup